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TravelnLass
Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 6:35 pm Post subject: The Decrepit Ol' Geezer Might Need a Visa Extension or Two |
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Now that we've settled on the potential Geezer limitations I might face in my quest to spend a year or so in VN (before moving on to likewise a goodly stay in Thailand, China, Indonesia, the Land of WhoKnows?, etc.), it seems the next logical question (presuming it turns out that I can't snag an official teaching job and thus a VN work permit - if the latter is even possible at my age) is...
Just what is the present scoop on obtaining/extending visas (obviously, for a U.S. citizen) in VN?
btw, I've not been able to find a definitive answer to any age limitation on obtaining a work permit in VN (only that the min. age is 18 yrs. with no max. age ever officially mentioned.) Indeed, I have to laugh - Goggling for such, I waded through 3 full pages of returns when finally... on the 4th page I found a link to my own "Decrepit Old Newbie" thread here! In short, I'd come full circle as far as our friend Google was concerned. 
But in any case, presuming an official VN work permit proves utterly elusive for Geezers such as I, then extending/renewing a visa is the next order of business.
Suffice I recently spoke w/ the VN Consulate in San Francisco by telephone, and I plan to get a 3 month multiple entry visa ($150 thru the Consulate), but what then? If I don't get a teaching gig that can get me a work permit, what hoops might I have to jump through and/or how long might I be able to milk the visa cow to stay? I don't plan on staying in VN forever, but hope to be there at least a year. So what might be my options for extending the 3 month and/or making border runs and/or fly to Bangkok to renew my visa?
I know the subject is not new to these forums, but it's clear that VN policy on such is nothing if not in flux. So I'm just hoping to get some semblance of what RECENT experiences have been, and/or definitive tips on how best to do the VN visa waltz (well o.k. perhaps more aptly... the visa limbo!) |
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Oriented
Joined: 27 Apr 2011
Posts: 29
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 1:28 am Post subject: |
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| Did you check the newhanoinan website? They have a forum "ask a new hanoian" that might help. Though of course, it might only apply to Hanoi. |
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yogurtpooh
Joined: 26 Oct 2010
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| Anything can happen in Vietnam... with bribes. |
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Oh My God
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 273
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| yogurtpooh wrote: |
| Anything can happen in Vietnam... with bribes. |
This is unfortunately the truth in essence but it's still mostly about who you know. This will also help you in paying off the right people or maybe they'll do it as a favor, the later still happens to/for me in most cases. That being said, I must say that I've developed these relationships through my years of living here.
I've concentrated my efforts in making friends within the many branches of the police but also with business contacts. Most are quite indignant about making friends with police as they take bribes in many forms here and even the VN are haters of them BUT I'd submit that if any of those same VN people were to end up in the same position that they'd do the same or worse as greed is much alike heroine to those that have that opportunity.
So... my advice to you is to make friends in positions of authority and/or influence from the time you step out of the plane, as a Tay you'll have that opportunity much more than other VN.
Da Lat is a wonderful destination and you should be able to find work there, I know that I've been offered positions there but find that Saigon is more conducive for my seminar base operations. Actually, I feel a little jealous. |
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: The Decrepit Ol' Geezer Might Need a Visa Extension or T |
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| TravelnLass wrote: |
Suffice I recently spoke w/ the VN Consulate in San Francisco by telephone, and I plan to get a 3 month multiple entry visa ($150 thru the Consulate), but what then? If I don't get a teaching gig that can get me a work permit, what hoops might I have to jump through and/or how long might I be able to milk the visa cow to stay? I don't plan on staying in VN forever, but hope to be there at least a year. So what might be my options for extending the 3 month and/or making border runs and/or fly to Bangkok to renew my visa?
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NEVER GET A VISA THROUGH THE VIETNAM EMBASSY OR CONSULATE!!! This is thee biggest moneymaking scam for Vietnamese Government workers abroad (since they can't hint at bribes because bribing officials is {I *THINK*] not a part of American culture {EXCEPT for large corporations and unions bribing congressmen, but that is a different matter}).
So, because Embassy/Consular staff don't get to collect the same bribes that they would collect at home in Viet Nam, they just jack up the price for a tourist visa!!
Google "Vietnam Visa On Arrival" and I guarantee you that at ANY of the multiple listings that provide this service, NONE OF THEM will charge you more than half of what the Embassy/Consulate fee is for thee same visa!
DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS, but it is my understanding that you do get ONE AND ONLY ONE IN-COUNTRY RENEWAL of the visa (usually done through a travel agency or another person who "...has a good relationship with the Immigration Ministry.") And, after that one renewal, it's a round-trip to Bangkok! |
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TravelnLass
Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: The Decrepit Ol' Geezer Might Need a Visa Extension or T |
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| LettersAthruZ wrote: |
Google "Vietnam Visa On Arrival" and I guarantee you that at ANY of the multiple listings that provide this service, NONE OF THEM will charge you more than half of what the Embassy/Consulate fee is for thee same visa!
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Great tip LAZ - I was a bit leery of such at first, but perusing reams of posts in LPTT, it seems the "pre-arranged visa" is both legit and much cheaper ($70-$85 incl. the $50 "stamp fee" upon arrival for a 3 month multi vs. $150 for same from SanFran VN consulate.)
Trouble izzz... while most all those pre-arranged visa sites offer the "3 month multiple entry" that I seek - it's unclear if ALL those entries need be by air only arrival. Certainly the first must be (which likely will work for me), but... will the "multi-entry" be for naught if I plan to make a foray or two into Laos or Cambodia?
I can't seem to get a definitive on that, so I guess I'm leaning towards biting bullet (i.e. $55-$75 more) to get (what I presume to be) a bonafide 3 month multi-entry from the SanFran consulate
What do you All think?
| LettersAthruZ wrote: |
DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS, but it is my understanding that you do get ONE AND ONLY ONE IN-COUNTRY RENEWAL of the visa (usually done through a travel agency or another person who "...has a good relationship with the Immigration Ministry.") And, after that one renewal, it's a round-trip to Bangkok! |
Would the same be true slipping overland and back into Laos/Cambodia? (i.e. does it HAVE to be by air to BKK?)
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LettersAthruZ
Joined: 25 Apr 2010
Posts: 466
Location: North Viet Nam
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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No - once you GET the three-month multiple entry, you CAN come back into Viet Nam through ANY MEANS OF TRAVEL (overland, rail, bus, yak, etc.) DURING the visa validity period.
When you get a BRAND NEW 3-Month visa on your trip to Bangkok (or wherever you go to), you then MUST fly into the country by air to get your brand new three month visa on arrival!!
I have heard RUMOURS that you CAN go overland from The South to the Viet Nam Embassy in Phnom Penh and get a new visa there and cross back OVERLAND into Viet Nam.......but I CANNOT verify this!! |
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Oh My God
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 273
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| Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 11:51 pm Post subject: Re: The Decrepit Ol' Geezer Might Need a Visa Extension or T |
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| LettersAthruZ wrote: |
| (since they can't hint at bribes because bribing officials is {I *THINK*] not a part of American culture {EXCEPT for large corporations and unions bribing congressmen, but that is a different matter}). |
No, this was part of our culture (or should I say that it was more equally widespread) now only the rich (be it Corp.s or individuals) get to partake in this ritual. LOL |
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lsta
Joined: 08 Jun 2008
Posts: 9
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I just got my tourist visa (issued from embassy in US) extended for the second time through my travel agent in VN without having to leave the country. It was expensive though - about $200 US. Cheaper that having to fly out and in again... but not as much fun. Was told that "sometimes" it can even be done a third time in-country. |
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TravelnLass
Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| LettersAthruZ wrote: |
| No - once you GET the three-month multiple entry, you CAN come back into Viet Nam through ANY MEANS OF TRAVEL (overland, rail, bus, yak, etc.) DURING the visa validity period. |
So are you saying that - getting a "Pre-arranged" visa (for technically it's not a "VOA" itself, but rather a letter that gets you a visa upon arrival only when you fly in) is the same visa one gets through a VN consulate in the states? I mean, would not the multi-entry aspect of the former also only be recognized when you fly in?
I can find nothing definitieve on this in my searches - have you gotten such a pre-arranged visa recently? (and have you/anyone you know actually used the visa to go out/back into VN overland?
I guess I just want to make sure that whatever 3 month visa I obtain before heading to VN is a multi-entry that allows me to go to 'n fro overland during the 3 months.
Actually, my tentative plan now is... to fly into Chiang Mai (which I understand if you fly into Thailand requires no visa for a 30 day stay), take the CELTA there, and then fly into VN to look for a teaching position. But again - whatever VN visa I get, I want it to be as long as possible (3 mo.?) and allow multiple entry (either by overland or air.)
So perhaps I could wait til I'm IN Thailand to get the VN visa - might it be cheaper still? Or better I just get either the pre-arranged before I go (IF I can be sure it allows multi entry overland) else bite bullet with the $150 consulate.
I surely don't mean to make this unnecessarily complicated. Just not sure which way to go.
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TravelnLass
Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 21
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 5:35 am Post subject: |
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| lsta wrote: |
| I just got my tourist visa (issued from embassy in US) extended for the second time through my travel agent in VN without having to leave the country. It was expensive though - about $200 US. Cheaper that having to fly out and in again... but not as much fun. Was told that "sometimes" it can even be done a third time in-country. |
How long was the original tourist visa (30 days? 3 mo.? multi-entry?) AND likewise how long? multi-entry? for the extension? |
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lsta
Joined: 08 Jun 2008
Posts: 9
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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| My original visa was for 90 days/single entry. Since then I have gotten 2 more 90 day/single entry extensions while in country. I could have gotten multiple entry but didn't need it. |
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